Joiner support

ABSTRACT

A joiner support for joining together open shelves by fastening together two shell halves about rods of the shelves, the rods extending through openings in the shell halves and being braced within the shell halves to help stabilize the shelves. The joiner support can be braced against a wall with a bracket.

United States Patent 1191 Stempel Oct. 16, 1973 JOINER SUPPORT 2.894.6437/1959 Maslow 211/182 )1 3,598,064 8/1971 Stempel 211/90 X [75] Invent gg Stempe't POmPmO 1,596,812 8/1926 Curtis et al. 211/90 x eac a. [73]Assignee: Belaco, lnc., Ocula. Fla. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,287,983 4/1960 France 211/182 [22] Filed: May 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:146,652 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Settle & Oltman [52]U.S. Cl. 248/250, 287/49 [51] Int. Cl A471) 3/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58]Field Of Search 211/106, 148, 181, A joiner support for joining togetherOpen shelves by 211/182; 108/152; 248/240.4, 240.2, 240, fasteningtogether two shell halves about rods of the 250; 287/49 shelves, therods extending through openings in the shell halves and being bracedwithin the shell halves to References Clted help stabilize the shelves.The joiner support can be UNITED STATES PAT S braced against a wall witha bracket.

469,808 3/1892 Poindexter 287/49 1,695,211 12/1928 Shilander..... 211/90x 6 (313M514 Drawmg F'gures 3,300,784 l/1967 Ervine 287/49 X PATENTEDUBI16 I973 INVENTOR.

EDWARD H. STEMPEL JOINER SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Joinerdevices for open shelves have usually involved many separate pieceswhich must be fastened together when the shelves are installed. Theinstallation of open shelves with known joining devices has involved toomuch labor, and the joining devices themselves have been unduly costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a joiner supportwhichnot only joins together two shelves at a frontportion of theshelves, but also can be braced against a wall to help support theshelves. The joiner support includes two shell halves each of which hasa squared plate portion with a lip at .the perimeter of the plateportion projecting perpendicularly .thereto, a pair of slots in a firstportion of the lip, and a'pair of recesses in each of the lip portionswhich connect to the first lip portion. Thus, the shell halves may befastened together about the front rods of the shelves with the rodsextending through the recesses and with stringers of the shelves whichare perpendicular to the rods extending through the slots. The ends ofthe rods inside the shell halves may be braced by projections formedintegrally with the shell halves. These projections preferably includepartitions and bridges between which the ends of the shelf rods aretrapped.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ajoiner support which not only joins shelves together but which alsohelps to stabilize the shelves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joiner support which maybe made of molded plastic material.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the number of pieces inthe joiner support.

A further object of the invention is to brace shelf rods within thejoiner support to help stabilize the shelves.

Still another object of the invention is to .brace the entire joinersupport with a bracket to help support the shelves.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of ashelf mounted in a corner of a room and supported with a joiner supportin accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two shelves joined together by thejoiner support;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective,'with parts broken away forclarity, showing how the two shell halves of the joiner support clamparound rods of the shelf; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that theinvention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 show two different types of shelvessupported by the same joiner support 10. In FIG. 2, two shelves 12 and14 are joined together at front portions of the shelves by the joinersupport 10. The joiner support 10 is braced against a wall by-a bracket16 to help support the shelves. The shelves l2 and 14 are open shelvesconsisting of rods and stringers. In shelf 12, for example, there is arear rod 18, a front rod 20 and a middle rod 22. These rods are allparallel to each other and lie in the same plane. At the front of theshelf, there is another rod 24 which is parallel to rod 20, and rods 20and 24 lie in a plane which is perpendicular to the first plane. Thereare stringers 26 running perpendicular to all of the rods and affixedthereto as by welding. It may be noted that the stringers bend over rod20 and extend down to rod 24. The other shelf 14 is of the sameconstruction.

The shelves 12 and 14 are supported at the rear by hooks 30 and 32, andthey are supported at the front by the support 10 together with thebracket 16. There may be additional wall brackets for supporting theends of the shelves.

In FIG. 1, a shelf 34 is shown which is slightly different inconstruction. Only a portion of the shelf is shown since the remainderof the shelf is the same as shelves 12 and 14. The shelf 34 has frontrods 36 and 38 of a heavier gauge so that hangers may be hung on the rod38. There are heavier spacers 40 joining the two rods 36 and 38 andkeeping them at the proper spacing. It may be noted that the stringers42 terminate at the rod 36 and do not bend down to join rod 38 as do thestringers 26 in FIG. 2.

The joiner support 10 in FIG. 1 is identical to the support 10 in FIG.2, and the wall bracket 16 isalso the same. In FIG. 1, only a singleshelf 34 is visible, but it will be understood that stringer 42' is thefirst stringer of another shelf which is joined to the shelf 34 by thejoiner support 10 The manner in which two shelves are joined together bythe joiner support is shown in FIG. 3. The construction of the joinersupport will also be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The joiner support 10 consists of two shell halves 44 and 46 each ofwhich is made of molded plastic material. The shell halves 44 and 46shown in the drawings are identical to each other and this is thepreferredconstruction. Since the shell halves are identical, the shellhalf 46 will be described in detail, and it will be understood that theother shell half 44 is the same.

Shell half 46 consists of a squared, flat plate portion 48 with aperipheral lip 50 projecting laterally perpendiculat to the plateportion 48. perpendicular lip 50 as viewed in FIG. 3 consists of a toplip portion 51, a bottom lip portion 52, a left lip portion 53 and aright lip portion 54. Lip portions 51 and 52 are parallel to each otherand lip portions 53 and 54 are also parallel to each other.

Lip portion 51 has two slots 55 and 56 extending across the entirewidth, and these slots snugly receive the stringers 26 (or stringers 42in the embodiment of FIG. 1). These slots are also visible in the toplip of shell half 44. Thus, the stringers of the shelf are locked by thetop lip.

Lip portion 54 has two semi-circular recesses 58 and 60. These tworecesses are also visible at the near end of shell half 44. Lip portion53 has two identical recesses 62 and 64. Recesses 58 and 60 receive rods20 and 24 of shelf 14, and recesses 62 and 64 receive rods 20 and 24 ofthe shelf 12. Since there are identical recesses in both shell halves 44and 46, the rods are clamped firmly between the two shell halves andretained in the recesses.

The rods 20 and 24 extend through the recesses into the interior of thejoiner support and terminate at about the middle of the joiner support.The ends of the two rods 20 terminate between upper lip portion 51 and apartition 66 which is parallel to lip portion 51. The other two rods 24terminate between lip portion 52 and a partition 68 which is parallel tolip portion 52. Two bridges 70 and 72 extend between lip portion 52 andpartition 68, and the rods 24 rest on these bridges. Two identicalbridges 74 and 76 (76 not visible) extend between lip portion 51 andpartition 66, and the ends of rods 20 rest on these bridges. Thepartitions and bridges trap the ends of the rods 20 and 24 so that theycannot easily move, thus helping to stabilize the shelves. The shelvesare held firmly in place by the shell halves when they are fastenedtogether.

The fastening together of the shell halves is accomplished by a bolt 78which extends through an opening 80 in a boss 82 projecting from thecenter of the plate portion 48. The boss 82 may be connected to thepartitions 66 and 68 by webs 84. The webs brace the partitions 66 and68. I

The bracket 16, which braces the joiner support 10, is a metal rodhaving flattened tips 17 at each end thereof, the tips 17 havingopenings therein through which screws may pass to fasten the bracket toboth the joiner support and to the wall. The bolt 78 is used to fastenthe bracket to the joiner support.

It may be seen that the joiner support consists of only two plasticpieces, with the lips, the partitions, the bridges, the boss and thewebs all being integrally molded with each shell half. Since the shellhalves are identical, they may be used interchangeably. The joinersupport is braced from a wall with a simple bracket and thus the deviceserves not only to join two shelves together, but also to help supportthose shelves. The portions of the shelves which are joined togetherterminate inside the shell halves and are braced there by projections.It may be noted that the stringers 26 extend down inside the shellhalves. However, the stringers 42 in FIG. 1 terminate at the top of thejoiner support and do not extend down inside the shell halves. Thestringers 42 are still received in the slots and 56 to help lock theshelves in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A joiner support for joining end-to-end two horizontal shelves whichhave vertically spaced, round, upper and lower end rods, said joinersupport comprisfront and back shells, each having a vertically disposedplate, top and bottom horizontal peripheral lips and vertical peripherallips at opposite ends of the plate, said top, bottom and end lips oneach shell projecting inwardly the same amount substantiallyperpendicular to the plate and abutting against the corresponding lipson the other shell to define a chamber between the two shells;

each of said shells having aligned upper and lower semi-circularrecesses in its opposite end lips, the upper recesses being disposedjust below and substantially tangent to a projection of the respectivetop lip at the latters inner edge, the lower recesses being disposedjust above and substantially tangent to a projection of the respectivebottom lip at the latters inner edge, each of said recesses being spacedinward from the respective plate, the upper semi-circular recesses inthe two shells registering with each other at both end lips to definerespective upper circular openings for snugly receiving the upper endrods of the shelves to be joined, the lower semi-circular recesses inthe two shells registering with each other at both end lips to definerespective lower circular openings for snugly receiving the lower endrods of the shelves to be joined;

each shell having an upper, horizontal partition projecting inward fromthe plate the same amount as the peripheral lips thereon at a locationlaterally inward from the end lips and spaced below the top lip bysubstantially the diameter of said upper semicircular recesses in theend lips, so that said upper end rods of the shelves to be joined areboth snugly engaged from above and below by said top lip and said'upperpartition in laterally spaced relationship to their snug engagement inthe upper circular openings at the abutting end lips on the shells;

each shell having a lower horizontal partition projecting inward fromthe plate the same amount as said peripheral lips thereon at a locationlaterally inward from the end lips and spaced above the bottom lip bysubstantially the diameter of said lower semi-circular recesses in theend lips, so that said lower end rods of the shelves to be joined areboth snugly engaged from above and below by said lower partition andsaid bottom lip in laterally spaced relationship to their snugengagement at the lower circular openings at the abutting end lips onthe shells;

and means spaced from said recesses and said partitions for releasablyclamping said front and back shells together with the peripheral lips ofone abutting against the peripheral lips of the other and with the upperand lower partitions of one abutting respectively against the upper andlower partitions of the other.

2. A joiner support according to claim 2, wherein each shell has;

two laterally spaced upper bridges which are spaced laterally inwardfrom the opposite end lips on said shell and which extend down from thetop lip to the upper horizontal partition at the inside of the plate,each upper bridge terminating in an inner edge that is spaced inwardfrom the plate the same amount as the edge of the semi circular upperrecess in the nearer end lip on said shell at its horizontal radius, soas to engage the upper end rod of the respective shelf in laterallyspaced relationship to its snug engagement in the upper circularopenings at the abutting end lips on the shells;

and two laterally spaced lower bridges which are spaced laterally inwardfrom the opposite end lips on said shell and which extend up from thebottom lip to the lower horizontal partition at the inside of the plate,each lower bridge terminating in an inner edge that is spaced inwardfrom the plate the same amount as the edge of the semi-circular lowerrecess in the nearer end lip on said shell at its horizontal radius, 'soas to snugly engage the lower end rod of the respective shelf inlaterally spaced relationship to its snug engagement in the lowercircular openings at the abutting end lips on the shells. 3. A joinersupport according to claim 2, wherein said front and back shells havealigned openings in the top for snugly passing the front ends ofdownwardlybent end stringers on the respective shelves into said chamberbetween the shells.

4. A joiner support according to claim 2, wherein each shell has anannular boss located between its upper and lower partitions andprojecting inward from the plate the same amount as said peripheral lipsand partitions, the plate of at least one of said shells has an openingleading into the interior of said boss, and said bosses on the shellsabut against each other.

5. Ajoiner support according to claim 4, and further chamber between theshells.

' UNHED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRREC'EEUN Patent No. 3,765,634 Dated October 16, 1973 Inventor(s) EDWARD H. STEMPEL It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters-Patent, are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 4, line 48, "claim 2" should read claim 1 Signed and sealedthis 12th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A joiner support for joining end-to-end two horizontal shelves whichhave vertically spaced, round, upper and lower end rods, said joinersupport comprising: front and back shells, each having a verticallydisposed plate, top and bottom horizontal peripheral lips and verticalperipheral lips at opposite ends of the plate, said top, bottom and endlips on each shell projecting inwardly the same amount substantiallyperpendicular to the plate and abutting against the corresponding lipson the other shell to define a chamber between the two shells; each ofsaid shells having aligned upper and lower semi-circular recesses in itsopposite end lips, the upper recesses being disposed just below andsubstantially tangent to a projection of the respective top lip at thelatter''s inner edge, the lower recesses being disposed just above andsubstantially tangent to a projection of the respective bottom lip atthe latter''s inner edge, each of said recesses being spaced inward fromthe respective plate, the upper semi-circular recesses in the two shellsregistering with each other at both end lips to define respective uppercircular openings for snugly receiving the upper end rods of the shelvesto be joined, the lower semicircular recesses in the two shellsregistering with each other at both end lips to define respective lowercircular openings for snugly receiving the lower end rods of the shelvesto be joined; each shell having an upper, horizontal partitionprojecting inward from the plate the same amount as the peripheral lipsthereon at a location laterally inward from the end lips and spacedbelow the top lip by substantially the diameter of said uppersemi-circular recesses in the end lips, so that said upper end rOds ofthe shelves to be joined are both snugly engaged from above and below bysaid top lip and said upper partition in laterally spaced relationshipto their snug engagement in the upper circular openings at the abuttingend lips on the shells; each shell having a lower horizontal partitionprojecting inward from the plate the same amount as said peripheral lipsthereon at a location laterally inward from the end lips and spacedabove the bottom lip by substantially the diameter of said lowersemi-circular recesses in the end lips, so that said lower end rods ofthe shelves to be joined are both snugly engaged from above and below bysaid lower partition and said bottom lip in laterally spacedrelationship to their snug engagement at the lower circular openings atthe abutting end lips on the shells; and means spaced from said recessesand said partitions for releasably clamping said front and back shellstogether with the peripheral lips of one abutting against the peripherallips of the other and with the upper and lower partitions of oneabutting respectively against the upper and lower partitions of theother.
 2. A joiner support according to claim 2, wherein each shell has;two laterally spaced upper bridges which are spaced laterally inwardfrom the opposite end lips on said shell and which extend down from thetop lip to the upper horizontal partition at the inside of the plate,each upper bridge terminating in an inner edge that is spaced inwardfrom the plate the same amount as the edge of the semi-circular upperrecess in the nearer end lip on said shell at its horizontal radius, soas to engage the upper end rod of the respective shelf in laterallyspaced relationship to its snug engagement in the upper circularopenings at the abutting end lips on the shells; and two laterallyspaced lower bridges which are spaced laterally inward from the oppositeend lips on said shell and which extend up from the bottom lip to thelower horizontal partition at the inside of the plate, each lower bridgeterminating in an inner edge that is spaced inward from the plate thesame amount as the edge of the semi-circular lower recess in the nearerend lip on said shell at its horizontal radius, so as to snugly engagethe lower end rod of the respective shelf in laterally spacedrelationship to its snug engagement in the lower circular openings atthe abutting end lips on the shells.
 3. A joiner support according toclaim 2, wherein said front and back shells have aligned openings in thetop for snugly passing the front ends of downwardly-bent end stringerson the respective shelves into said chamber between the shells.
 4. Ajoiner support according to claim 2, wherein each shell has an annularboss located between its upper and lower partitions and projectinginward from the plate the same amount as said peripheral lips andpartitions, the plate of at least one of said shells has an openingleading into the interior of said boss, and said bosses on the shellsabut against each other.
 5. A joiner support according to claim 4, andfurther comprising vertical ribs on each shell at the inside of theplate connecting the boss to said upper and lower partitions,respectively.
 6. A joiner support according to claim 5, wherein saidfront and back shells have aligned openings in the top for snuglypassing the front ends of downwardly-bent end stringers on therespective shelves into said chamber between the shells.